VICE-president and general manager for Kaiser’s Jamaica operations, Gene Miller, has congratulated employees of the Alpart Mining Venture for restoring the damage Alpart bauxite cable belt to service within the estimated repair time of three weeks.

The belt, used for conveying bauxite from the Manchester Plateau to the Alpart alumina plant in St Elizabeth, resumed operations on August 2, only two weeks after it was damaged on July 19 by a fire believed to have been an act of arson.

The fire affected bauxite supplies to the plant.

In a letter to the employees issued yesterday, Miller expressed his personal appreciation for the skilful and dedicated work of the team and described the accomplishment as “one of the major achievements of Alpart workers in their 30-year history”.

Miller said that he and many others were disappointed that someone could have carried out such an action that threatened the livelihood of employees, and added that he was grateful that no one was injured in the unfortunate episode

The act was condemned by local community and national leaders, including the minister of mining and energy, Anthony Hylton, and described as a crime against the bauxite/alumina industry by National Workers Union vice-president Norman DaCosta.

Alumina production at the plant was not disturbed but the damage is expected to cost Alpart at least US$700,000 in repairs.

Alpart is one of the largest foreign exchange earners for the Government of Jamaica and pumps US$100 million into the economy each year. The company is a significant contributor to Jamaica’s economic and social development.